Western Daily Press (Saturday)
Woman hiding at air base not a spy, believe officials
AWOMAN escorted off a Somerset air base after being discovered “hiding in a wardrobe” is not thought to be a Chinese spy, the Ministry of Defence has said.
The woman was found inside the bedroom of an aircraft technician at RNAS Yeovilton and national media reports indicated she may have been part of a “honeytrap” style espionage operation.
A report in The Sun claims the serviceman attempted to keep her presence hidden from colleagues upon his return from a Christmas break.
The Ministry of Defence has confirmed it does not believe the woman is a spy, although it is still treating the incident as a serious security breach.
It is understood the woman is not Chinese, but a Dutch national of Indonesian heritage, and that the couple had been in a relationship for around two or three years.
A Royal Navy spokesman said: “The Royal Navy takes any breach of security or Covid-19 guidelines extremely seriously.
“We are investigating the incident but the individual is a European national and there is no suspicion of espionage.”
It is believed the aircraft technician involved could potentially face severe punishment for his actions.
RNAS Yeovilton is home to the Commando Helicopter Force and its Merlin helicopters, as well as a number of Wildcat helicopters, which are due to join aircraft carrier HMS Queen Elizabeth when it is deployed to the South China Sea later this year.
RNAS Yeovilton and Avon and Somerset Constabulary declined to comment on the incident.
A security source reportedly told The Sun the incident has “all the hallmarks of a honeytrap and navy chiefs could not afford to take any chances.”
A honeytrap is an act of espionage where agents seduce their targets in order to gain secret information.
Speaking to The Sun, a navy source reportedly added: “She was an unauthorised foreign national on Ministry of Defence property.
“It’s an astonishing breach and terrifying to think what she could have accessed.”